Seeing a surgeon this afternoon

I told you all earlier in the week about my experience with the ER visit and them telling me that I have arthritis in my knee.  Well, I finally broke down and called my niece who works for an orthopedic surgeon and I am seeing him this afternoon.  I am still having severe pain with the knee, and my niece says it sounds like a miniscus tear, but of course can't diagnose it without an MRI...so I'm sure that's where I will be soon.  I hate those things!  I have been going to the pool in the afternoon to do some water therapy on it, which was recommended by the doctor's office, so that has helped, but it's still swelling and just catches when I'm walking.  So who knows where I'm going to spend Spring Break!

Well, the good news is that he can fix you up!  The bad news is you might be laid up on Spring Break!  Bummer!  But its good timeing, at least you won't miss work!  Theres good and bad.  The best is that you'll be better soon!
Good luck with your visit!
Hugs
Kim J.

marsha being that you just had WLS they might want to put off you having surgery for a few more more months to make sure you are complelety healed. Either way GOOD LUCK>>>BTW i would rather have a mri than a ct scan..hate hate the barartic slum you have to drink

I hope all goes well and you get an answer for your pain that is an easy fix.

Well, home from the doctor, and like I already knew, there is something more wrong than arthritis.  I am so mad at that hospital and ER doctor that I saw on Sunday.  I went by and picked up the xrays and there was NO arthritis in my knee at all.  She showed me the x-rays, and what it would look like with arthritis, my knees were very clean and healthy looking....her words not mine.  LOL  I am getting scheduled for an MRI, but they are sure that it's a miniscus tear.  All the classic symptoms are there, but can't be positive until we get the MRI.  So I won't be having surgery next week, but possible in the future.  I am hoping I can stand the pain until summer when school is out, but I don't know.  I just really cannot afford to take anymore time off of work.   

glad to hear you have a good ortho doc. Let us know what the MRI says when you have it.
Emily

Marsha!
I had meniscus surgery about 6 years ago and it was easy and worth it!

My pain was going down stairs, kneeling (impossible), and getting in and out of the car. Walking didn't hurt but my knee would definitely be stiff after being under a desk for any length of time. I still have no idea how I tore mine, but did the prereq PT to no avail and when I finally had the MRI done, they said it was a tear and there was nothing to be done BUT surgery.

Then when the surgeon got in there, he said it was bigger than the MRI showed, about the size of a quarter. To my understanding, there is no "repair" there is only "ectomy" or cutting it out. Eventually there may be some knee replacement but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. All I know is that it made all the difference in the world.

I wouldn't wait for it to tear further and keep hurting--it's an arthroscopic surgery and you'll have residual swelling for up to 6 months or so but after 2-4 days of laying up and taking anti-inflammatories, some pain pills for nighttime, you'll be on crutches probably for a bit but they WANT you to walk on it and get back to normal. If you can do it before spring break then you could at least rest it some more during then....

best of luck!

At least you have good answers now.  This will work out the right way and you'll get better.  Stay positive and keep those doctors on their toes!

I wish you the very best in this and pray it can be done without surgery.